Koljaka studied at Tirana's Arts Lyceum from 1930 to 1934. A few years later, she enrolled at the
Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma from 1938 until 1941, in the studio of
Angelo Zanelli, where years prior, the painters
Vangjush Mio (1920–1924) and
Zef Kolombi (1929–1933) had studied. Koljaka was a member of the teaching staff at the
Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum along with colleagues
Odhise Paskali,
Janaq Paço and
Sadik Kaceli. She later taught at the
Higher Institute of Arts that opened in Tirana in 1960. She made her début with
My Friend (marble, 1941; Rome, private collection). Her success was affirmed with the monumental statue of
Vladimir Lenin (bronze, h. 4 m, 1954; Tiranë). She made sculptures on various themes, for example Seedlings (Afforestation) (coloured plaster, 1951), as well as portraits, like the life-size Dr Shiroka (marble, 1956; both Tiranë, A.G.). The gentle plasticity and clear outlines in her work convey a human warmth and awareness of space. The hands and other details of a portrait are often underpinned by a characteristic acumen. Koljaka is considered among the finest Albanian sculptors and teachers of sculpture. She died on 21 October 2005, at the age of 90. ==Notable works==